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Escambia Considers $377 Million Budget
September 10, 2010
Last night, Escambia County Commission held the first of two public hearings on their proposed $377,608,676 budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
The budget includes the following major changes when compared to last year, according to the county:
- Reduction in Ad-Valorem and MSTU – $5,528,198
- Reduction in SRIA budgeted reserves (beach taxes) – $3,012,085
- Reduction in the total General Fund Budget of – $582,322
- Reduction in BCC position counts of 17 positions – $710,406
- Reduction in the General Fund Transfer to Code Enforcement Fund – $164,282
- Reduction in the West Florida Library Budget – $34,734*
- Reduction in the Building Inspections Budget – $301,160
- Reduction in the Emergency Medical Services Budget – $502,856
- Net reduction of Elected Officials General Fund Budgets – $112,656**
- Century Courthouse/included in the Clerk’s Budget – $60,709
- Increase in the Sheriff’s General Fund Budget – $2,552,418
- Increase in the General Fund transfer to ECAT – $541,253
- Increase in Grants to the County over FY2009/10 levels – $7,467,819
- Increase in the Solid Waste Budget – $5,853,566
- Increase in the Civic Center Subsidy from the TOT – $349,810
- County General Fund Reserves are at FY2009/10 levels – $12,723,349
- Employee health insurance premiums will remain at the FY2009/10 levels
* According to the contractual funding formula the County’s $34,734 reduction will trigger a reduction of between $9,000 and $10,000 in the city’s required funding.
** Includes the Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Clerk, and Supervisor of Elections only. (Excludes the Sheriff’s budget)
A second public hearing on the budget will be held September 23 at 5:01 p.m. in the Board Chambers on the first floor at 221 Palafox Place.
Comments
16 Responses to “Escambia Considers $377 Million Budget”
(and regarding the lady with the microwave problems: has she tried aluminum foil hats? I’m told they works wonders in such situations. If that doesn’t work, you might ask her to shift to the left since he isn’t getting a good image.)
David not being serious
or trying to help Reynolds sell foil
REGARDING:
“I will give your the benefit of the doubt that you, in fact, are David Huie Green (vs. Mr. Disheartened).”
Sweet of you. Why would anyone pretend to be me? Where’s the benefit?
It’s bad enough simply being me.
Regarding repeated lies becoming truth:
I always thought it was Hitler in his 1925 autobiography Mein Kampf: “in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; – - – since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously.” (A fascinating book in which he shows he was nuts.)
Not that it matters since Nazis were Socialists too.
But then you remember: A lie never becomes true since it is false even if we all believe it. The simplest way to deal with lies is to point out they are lies. And that goes on here.
(I see Goebbels gets some credit too: Stolen from WikiAnswers: “What Goebbels said was that if you repeat a lie often enough people believe it, not that ‘it becomes the truth’.”)
David for truth
spoken in such a way it is heard
To “Mr. Green and Disheatened,”
No, you merely point out the danger and difficulty in communications, especially over this medium. The most innocent and innocuous reply will be construed by some as “flip or arrogant,” when that was not the intention.
Also, it is difficult to address the anonymous. Those that will not own up to or sign their names. I will give your the benefit of the doubt that you, in fact, are David Huie Green (vs. Mr. Disheartened).
Take Mr. Disheartened as an example. Yes, that is my secretaries phone number. She does all of the things a secretary does. So, taking this email in the strictest sense, he (?) is implying that I should answer every call that comes in? (Not understanding the volume of calls we get everyday.)
And now, he (?) floats the rumor that I do not answer/return calls. Is this true According to Mr. Disheartened it is. Yet I can tell you that just recently I spoke for 45 minutes with a lady convinced that her neighbor was “shooting her in the stomach with an electric gun everytime she steps outside to get the paper or her mail, and he is observing her with microwaves through here bathroom wall as she showers and uses the toilet.”
No, Mr. Green and Mr. Disheartened, I just caution you and all others that “blogs and blogging” CAN BECOME a page right out of a Scoialist Manifesto; “A lie repeated often enough becomes truth.”
David Morgan, Sheriff
Escambia County Sheriffs Office
436-9512 (My Secretaries Number)
Boy Boy Boy, you see we the people just dont understand.(at least we are not BLIND at to whats going on under our own nose) and by the way your 436-9512 # goes to your secretary, and the calls are not returned, I know I have tried to call. more of our tax DOLLARS at work..thanks Mr.Sheriff for something.
REGARDING:
“Dear Citizen, et al:
The problem is that you are looking at something you do not know how to appropriately read or interpret. So allow me to assist you.
- – -
As always, your oversight, interest and concern in the management of the ECSO is appreciated.
David Morgan, Sheriff”
And yet, somehow we don’t FEEL appreciated. The information was good and appreciated. I just suspect there might be a better way of getting it across without pointing out our extreme ignorance as you enlighten us.
For example “You are misrepresenting” gets across the idea we are liars, not misinformed or misinterpreting. Was that intentional?
Oh, well, I didn’t make any of the “misrepresentations” so I wasn’t personally called a liar. Still I wonder if this improves cooperation–(I assume that is still a goal?).
The statement “You (as with most) exemplify the danger of ‘blogs/blogging.’ They are filled with a lot of opinions devoid of any facts.” strikes me as a misrepresentation–excuse me, a misinterpretation. I agree the danger exists and statements are often made without knowledge, but the mere fact you are able to provide facts shows the service is not “devoid of any facts”–just that it gets a bit foggy at times.
But surely you know freedom of speech includes the freedom to speak without knowing everything and saying things some consider unacceptable. When people honestly give their opinions, that should be worthy of some respect even as you try to change them.
David for opportunities to improve
Dear Citizen, et al:
The problem is that you are looking at something you do not know how to appropriately read or interpret. So allow me to assist you.
The numbers you are refering to includes EVERYTHING, i.e., their salary plus benefits (required) such as FL Retirement System, Health Care, etc. As for the amounts, the ECSO is one of the lowest paid salary rates in the State. A starting deputy (everything included) comes in at around $52,000. per year.
When I took office their was 10 Divsions, each with a Director (lowest base salary of $75,000 NOT INCLUDING BENEFITS). We now have 3 Divisions. The money we saved from trimming all of those executive salaries went into correcting a long standing pay compression issue. We did this in conjunction with the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) representatives.
We cancelled the health care services contract (at the jail) which was $6.3 Million and now (the reason for all of the contract nurse practitioners, physicians, mental health services, etc.) we provide the same services for approximately $4 Million. Their pay is set at what is referred to as an “industry standard” based upon their education, background and experience. In other words, you get what you pay for.
As you recall, last year we submitted a budget with a $4 Million DECREASE, from the 2008 budget. The last time an ECSO Sheriffs budget was that low (total of $74 Million) was 2006. And even with this State mandated increase, we ARE STILL BELOW the 2006 budget of approximately $80 Million.
You are misrepresenting the “new contractors.” I hired 4 people (personally) since my administration began. The others are all health care providers that we must have for the ECSO correctional facility as mandated by State and Federal requirements.
Contrary to your misrepresentations Mr. Citizen, I would stand before anyone and defend this budget. Even though we are still approximately $3 Million below the last sheriff’s LOWEST budget, we have managed to place 32 additional deputies on the road (12 from existing budget reallocations and 20 from the Fed Grant).
We also ceased all helicopter operations except for mandatory FAA training and extreme emergencies, for an additional savings of approximately $1 Million dollars per year.
You (as with most) exemplify the danger of ‘blogs/blogging.’ They are filled with a lot of opinons devoid of any facts.
There obviously is not enough space here to answer or allay all of your ‘concerns.’ But I assure you we are being good stewards of the taxpayers money. I would encourage you and anyone interested to get the historical perspective on the ECSO budget as well as the overall county budget. This information can be obtained on line via the EsCo Clerk of the Court website.
As always, your oversight, interest and concern in the management of the ECSO is appreciated.
David Morgan, Sheriff
Escambia County, FL
436-9512
secretary is important job
Half a million from EMS! Its seems the commisioners relying on a survey to tell them how to budget. I wonder if they realize how under paid police, fire, and ems are. They have secrataris that make more than they do. Look it up…60000 for some over 40000 for others. The average public safety person makes 26000. A dog catcher makes more than them. The commisioners believe that by cutting ems budget they are doing good. But they and everyone else will complain from the lack of response or the speed of response from them. People need to stop voting these idiots into office.
half a million from te Emergency Medical Services Budget – $502,856, what is that about
With all the lies the county tells, they are only out for themselves at our expence. due yet we are supporting them.did you know that the temp county leader has given a large number of employees that worked in his department very large RAISES. but who in the county circle(LEADERS) will do anything,((NONE)).they arent worried they will just stick us with the bill. if the 5 people that runs our County,ran their house hold or business like they run the County they would go BANKRUPT..I for 1 am sick of the way our County is being run..///and up the line..Lets let them know who is their boss.anyone with me on this
Mr 5 star, ……….like OBAMA,…….. is a LIAR. The end….
What I don’t understand is all the complaints about budget and the fact the county commission want to keep “trimming the fat”. The county commission is a part time job for already rich people who voted recently to increase their salaries while county workers go without a raise for the 7th year in a row. Not to mention that when its budget time let’s cut police, fire, and ems jobs but let’s not cut our over paid secretaries and assistant who make more than the very people keeping us safe and protected both medically and lawfully. Our county commission is a joke. Blue bloods who are already worth more than the average citizen makes in their life time, and they seem to keep getting richer. Ever wonder why they chose the job. Well here you go, its after 2 terms or 10 years they retire with 100% their salary! Which is over $70000 a year each year for the rest of their life! Not only do they have money, they have even more after they leave. They aren’t out for us…john q public but just themselves. Hey I have a great idea, let’s fire more police, fire, ems workers and point out that the sheriff is wanting a bigger budget. Did you know that we are understaffed there based on the entire state!? So let’s all complain about the poor public safety and lack of officers but let’s not understand why because we don’t want to offend the county commission or lay off all the over paid staff who seem to never get stuff done. Sorry for my rant and its lack of structure. I live in escambia county I guess I’m used to not having a clear, focused, logical path to my ideas or solution.
Here’s a few more; HR Associates 70,278,71,415,75,951, Staff Inspector 83,553, two Public Affairs Coordinators who coordinate themselves at 63,314 each, HR Manager 94,297, Comm’ Relations 79,982, Info Systems Manager 87,654, Risk Mgmt Coordinator 91,674. The list goes on. What’s neat about these people is all but just one or two have only been there since Morgan got elected. None of which put their life on the line every day protecting you and your family from the criminals. They are all civilians that hardly ever leave the office. Would you still think the Good Ole Boy system is still alive down there?
Take a look at the Sheriffs Office budget. I stopped on pg 24 and only counted the Law Enforcement side and here’s what I found. All of these salaries are well over $100.000; 4 master deputies, 5 Sgts, 17 Lt’s, 5 Captains. The Chief comes in at $196.526, Attorney $126.420, Nurse Practitioner $123.318, Director of Nursing $99,119 and the Mental Health Admin’ $124,755. I got tired of looking. Morgan now wants to increase his budget over 2 million. What happened to stream lining my budget, cutting starting at the top?? He’s full of hot air people. Please go to his web site and scroll down the salaries. You won’t make it far before you get the idea. The Chiefs is outrageous.
REGARDING:
“(Sounds like stealing to me)”
Why do you think the smartest criminals go into politics? That’s where the money is.
My question is: when is the COUNTY that TAXES me at the same rate(15.565%) property tax .that everyone has to pay, start getting any county maintaince(services) in district 5. they tax us but we get nothing for it.(Sounds like stealing to me)